Pakistan has been ranked 6th amongst the countries where iodine deficiency is a serious public health problem. According to a recent research published in Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences, around 50 million people are suffering from iodine deficiency while 6.5 million are facing severe type of deficiency.
Thew report said up to 90 per cent population of hilly areas of NWFP, AJK and Northern Areas and numerous pockets of population in Punjab is iodine deficient. Ironically, only 17 per cent of the overall population use iodised salt in our country. Recently, The Network, an NGO has launched a campaign for "Advocacy, Awareness & Monitoring of Implementation of Breastfeeding laws and promotion of IDDs legislation enforcement".
It is seeking media's assistance in this noble cause and strongly believes that media can play a significant role in helping to create mass awareness on promotion of iodised salt to control Iodine deficiency disorders among the nation.
The objective of the drive is to create awareness among the masses about the use of Iodised Salt. In this background, The Network wants to form a National Alliance of Media Persons and Opinion Makers on IDDs Control and develop an action plan in consultation with media representatives. A consultative meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 29, at a local Hotel.